Ken Warkentin’s Friday, March 18 & Saturday, March 19 Selections

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Friday, March 18 Selections

RACE 1

1-S McKee – Has ramped up his game in his last two with a pair of solid thirds, Juan Cano got off the schneid with Preppy Art last week, could be on the verge from the rail

3-Takeittotheface – Thought he was sitting on a winning effort, got pace compromised & outsprinted last week, draws inside again to stalk a wide-open division

8-Waimac Attack N – Forced into a brutal first over trip from post ten & still held third in a very good acclimating mile last week, stuck outside, but a more patient trip could pay off

RACE 2

3-President – Got nosed out by a well-meant Fix-It-Up with trot from start to finish after missing 19 days, an excellent re-acclimating mile & now draws better

5-Trents A Lock – Stepped it up significantly in his second start off the bench & just missed with trot at both ends, here’s a improving 4YO heading in the right direction

7-Halliama – Twice a hard-charging winner this winter, beaten favorite was airborne in :26.4 from an impossible spot last week & continues going well for Alek Chartrand

RACE 3

6-Shake It – Was able to rate nicely & held on gamely for a new mark in a sparkling 3YO debut, a major threat to repeat for the formidable combo of Dexter Dunn & Chris Ryder

8-Majorly Sexy A – Interesting 6YO makes his long-awaited career debut for Team Tritton, strong qualifiers, including a second to Preferred standout Covered Bridge

3-Silverstone – Winless Team Burke trainee finished an even fifth in his sophomore debut, did pace home in :26.2 & highly eligible to get more aggressive

RACE 4

-Dance Ticket – Homebred filly couldn’t have picked a softer spot to make her debut for Chris Ryder & was a lot better in her second qualifier with Dave Miller

6-Greystone Natalio – Not sure what all the tote hype was about last week, nevertheless she got parked, now it’s her key third start off the bench on Lasix & picks up Dexter Dunn

2-Kaitlyn N – Note the narrow loss as the beaten favorite two starts back, injury scratch & month off make her tough to gauge, plus she’s 0 for her last 28, but draws inside

RACE 5

6-DL’s Big Elvis – Beaten favorite launched a big wide late move to no avail last week, was on point before the claim, draws better & faces a highly beatable division

5-May I Cruise West – Got off the a real slow start from post ten & flashed some late life in a much better effort last week, moves to midpack & long overdue

3-Galactic Galleon N – Draws an improved post off a couple of no-chance trips, a solid third three starts back, 13YO veteran has a chance to rebound with smooth stalking strategy

RACE 6

6-Tenthousand Angels – Flashed some sneaky late pace chasing Wakemeshakeme in a useful acclimating mile for Team Bongiorno, now look for her to be more aggressive

7-Wakmeshakeme – Only took a couple of starts for the Team Burke program to produce a new lifetime mark in round two, draws a tougher post, but pointing skyward

4-In The Night – Came under intense pressure & just missed to Wakemeshakeme after a no-chance trip in Leg 1 & draws inside again to be forwardly engaged

RACE 7

1-Sunshine’s Finest – Rallied for a close third in round one of a Trackmaster Series, out of striking range into icy gusts last Saturday, drops into a softer spot here

10-Preppy Art – Preppy turned things around by uncorking an impressive far turn brush & held on in a sharp 1:52.3 last week, moves outside, but rates contender status

3-Ferdinand A – Hooked up in a battle up front & still held second in a nice rebound effort last week, draws post three again & will likely be on or near the lead

RACE 8

1-Dayson – 9YO millionaire has regained his best stride with a pair of solid efforts here, drops a notch & draws inside to trip out for Team Burke

6-No Drama Please – Trotted home for minor spoils in :26.2 with a decent tailwind last Friday, now has a chance for a big follow up in his second start off the bench

5-Scirocco Rob – Beaten heavy favorite had his own way & had to settle for second last week, remains at a reduced level for his key third start back

RACE 9

7-Deltasun A – Stepped out to be more prominent for the most part last week after missing a month, drops another notch for the Andrew Harris 1-2 punch & overdue

6-Spree – This mare has really gotten good with three straight thirds against tougher foes like the red-hot Toccoa Falls, she’s eligible to step out & be a major factor

5-Beantown Madness – Fresh off a noteworthy rally in :27.3 to just miss, that was a month ago, which makes him questionable, but still a midpack stalking contender

RACE 10

6-Dbldelitebrigade N – Reeled off three straight in February @ Yonkers & arrives fresh off a narrow loss, class drop & speed could make her the one to knock off

8-A Better Game – Has struggled to make it up since her 1:50.4 career best back on February 11, draws outside, yet she’s facing easier company & can grind these down

1-Heavenissofaraway – Has been more productive in her last three @ Yonkers since Team Burke took over, gets class & post relief here & looms large

RACE 11

6-Vic’s Winner – Left alertly, the finished well after some late traffic issues into icy gusts last Saturday, on the board in his previous three & drops back down

4-Fix-It-Up – First time Team Bongiorno resulted in a complete turnaround & new lifetime mark, holding on in 1:56.1, draws inside again for a slightly tougher task

7-Birdman – Bird was the word when he was able to dictate his terms against easier last week, lands a tougher post, but brimming with renewed confidence

RACE 12

2-Crunch – Runner up to standout Ocean Ridge N two starts back, then unleashed a mighty rally to romp decisively, has a new lease on life in a hot barn & draws better

8-Safety Second – Looked like a live item off the claim, was forced to angle too late chasing longshot Make It Big, moves outside, but remains a fresh threat

3-Make It Big – 9YO switched back to the mile track & suddenly came to life with an energetic :27.2 to light up the board last week, post three again to prove it was no fluke

RACE 13

3-Nimah Franco N – Hasn’t hit the board in four starts this season spaced out, but did flash some late life last week, gets class & post relief for a wake up call

4-Pappy Rocks – Battled bitterly after getting used hard from post seven & chased a standout Gottalovemyshadow, fresh claim draws better with speed

8-Dandy Idea – She rides in on a five-race winning streak, leading every step, made her Freehold debut after missing a month, how far can she go here for her new barn?

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, March 19 Selections

RACE 1

1-Truffle Dog – Consistent Team Cullipher gelding added Lasix & just missed with pace at both ends, now moves inside to employ his relentless style

7-One Eight Hundred – 1:48 stakes performer last year fresh off a sharp qualifier, including a :25.4 sprint & looks ready to make an impression right off the hop for Team Takter

6-Bayfield Beach – Pace compromised & struck by icy headwinds in his 4YO debut, Team Burke trainee has a big chance to regain winning form in his second try off the bench

RACE 2

2-Emma Talking – $100,000 Chapter Seven colt closed willingly into the brutal stretch headwinds last Saturday, draws inside again for his second career start & stands out

3-Flyhawk El Fuerte – Lands post three again fresh off an excellent acclimating mile on a frigid & windy night @ 87-1, has license to follow up with even more

7-High Hills – Muscle Hill homebred out of Dan Patch Award winner Poof She’s Gone qualified okay & looks to regroup in a soft spot for Nifty Norman

RACE 3

1-God’s Spirit N – Finished well in both starts since coming back from a long layoff, has a winning history here, hits rock bottom & moves inside with Dexter Dunn

4-Cecil Casanova – Comes off a nightmare trip from post ten in the GSY Series, was chasing much better before that & draws better to get more aggressive

7-Captainofrocknroll – Draws a tougher post, yet raced better making up ground & gaining the show into icy gusts last Saturday & looks for a favorable set up

RACE 4

6-Pretty Ricki – Was going to be last Saturday’s Best Bet, a close second in his last two, his latest with a :26.3, gate speed puts him in play once again for a sharp barn

3-Dontpassme Hanover – Beaten chalk got going too late off a slow pace, yet still hit the board again in :25.4, an improved post figures to get him within close striking range

4-Meet The Creeper – Gradually gaining his best stride, game first over & just missed in :26 when well supported last out, post four again to give Team Chiodo a 1-2 punch

RACE 5

1-Arrhythmic Surge – Unleashed a mighty surge into gale force gusts & finished a close second in a Trackmaster Final last week, finally draws inside & might be on the verge

2-Bargain Shopper – The perfect trip paid off with a big upset in a Trackmaster Final last Saturday, rewarded with an improved post to set up another stalking scenario

7-Machdavid – Added Lasix recently, hit the board in his last two Trackmaster Series miles, note the narrow loss in :26.2 two starts back, contender despite a more demanding post

RACE 6

1-Cool Blues Man – Despite just one win so far this season he’s been pretty steady, a slow start & wicked headwinds hindered him last week, draws much better to stalk n pop

4-Windsong Jack – Beaten heavy favorite forced into a pace setting role again & yielded to the pocket sitter Bank Sea on a chilly night, dominant winner before that for a hot combo

8-So Take That – Overcame brutal headwinds & stormed home from a real tough spot to upset a Trackmaster Final last week, stuck outside here, but razor sharp

RACE 7

5-Hail Christian N – Hammered down to 1-5 & overcame post ten with a sterling rally, that was two weeks ago, finally draws better as a threat to repeat for Team Pelling

4-Palomar – His lone win this season came at this level in late February, followed up with a solid second against high priced claimers, now gets class & post relief for Team Cullipher

2-Da Delightful – Mild upset at this level three starts back, strong runner up into chilly headwinds last week, now draws better in top form & eligible to trip out

RACE 8

1-Roger That Bluechip – Tried to get going late & was blocked in the stretch sprint last week, lands inside again off that nice bounce-back mile & reunited with Joe Bongiorno

2-Mindtrip – Rallied solidly into the stretch gusts to pick up the show fresh off the claim, moves inside with renewed life & can be part of the speed equation in this tight match up

9-Black Chevron N – Comes off a much better effort with strong pace at both ends, stuck outside, but look for Dexter Dunn to leave for stalking position in a very tricky puzzle

RACE 9

3-Fabrizio N – Revved up with the recent addition of Lasix, just missed two starts back, runner up to De Los Cielos Deo last week, draws inside again to possibly turn the tables

2-De Los Cielos Deo – With the exception of one post ten clunker he’s been stellar this winter for Team Burke & finally draws inside fresh off a wire-to-wire blowout

9-Trump Nation – The other Team Burke trainee in here has sharpened his sword, second to a 1:49.2 Vettel N last out, can blast off to overcome post nine & handle the class hike

RACE 10

3-Warrior One – Consistent Team Burke gelding on the board in six of seven this season, nosed out in the Yonkers Open last Friday, draws inside with ideal trip potential

6-Lovedbythemasses – Leads a powerful Team Cullipher one-two punch fresh off fourth straight win, a decisive rally into frigid gusts last week & tough to go against

4-Yanks Dugout – Gutsy Team Burke winner in his Big M debut came up second best to Lovedbythemasses last week, yet remains a major threat in this competitive match up

RACE 11

1-Tam Major A – Hampered by slow starts from post eight in his last two, now moves inside, remains down in class, a closer stalking trip is likely & long overdue

2-Decision Day – Responded to aggressive handling & dominated with his fourth straight class drop & now draws inside with renewed confidence

4-Bobcat Bay – The Bobcat tried it on the lead under frigid conditions & yielded to Decision Day last week, bumped back up in class & can be a dangerous closer

RACE 12

4-Toccoa Falls – Hard-charging repeater with a wind-aided :26.3 & lowered his mark to 1:53.1 last Friday & this Per Engblom trainee will logically be tough to fend off

5-Kenziesky Hanover – Team Cullipher mare has been tangling with the top guns, while maintaining good form, drops back down, we may see her take charge & control it

6-Gotwuteverittakes – Has struggled making just three starts this year, looks to rebound off a rare miscue by getting further class relief & owns a big late kick when right

RACE 13

2-Always A Force – Unleashed a wind-aided :26.4 to overcome post eight & win a GSY division as the lukewarm favorite & draws inside a very soft finale

7-Bungalow Bill N – The Bungalow was much better riding second over cover & holding third last Friday, rates highly with a similar trip despite a more demanding post

6-Deerfield Beach – Just two for his last 47 & hasn’t the ticket this season, but got parked last out & was an okay fourth chasing a dominant winner in Crunch before that